Ruling party to back opposition deputy speaker candidate in confirmation vote

The ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction said on Monday that it will provide the votes needed to confirm Aram Vardevanyan, the opposition Strong Armenia faction’s candidate for the third vacant Deputy Speaker position reserved for the opposition.

The confirmation vote will take place today.

Arusyak Manavazyan, head of the Civil Contract parliamentary faction, made the statement during the parliamentary session.

“The Civil Contract faction has decided to provide enough votes for this election. We also took into account the absence of Artur Sargsyan, who is under house arrest,” Manavazyan said, referring to another opposition candidate for the post from the Hayastan (Armenia) faction. 

“I would only add that you did not cast a single vote for any of our three candidates, even though they were more than deserving,” Manavazyan said, referring to the confirmation votes for Ruben Rubinyan as Speaker, as well as Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan as Deputy Speakers.